Hello QU!
Do you all remember what you were doing during our country’s Bicentennial in 1976? I was eleven years old, living at Camp Lejune, NC with my family. My dad’s platoon sponsored our Girl Scout Troop (talk about uniform inspections!) so you can imagine the birthday celebration held by our troop living on a USMC military base. It was incredible. The memories are all in my head. We have very few pictures—film and developing, even at the PX, was still a luxury item. I picked out the gingham fabric, in red and blue for the dress my mom made. The biggest thrill was the red shoes! Doesn’t every little girl need a pair of dressy, red shoes?
While reflecting on the USA’s Semi-quincentennial and pondering the many ideas in my head for our challenge, I went to the branch library near my house and discovered a new book commemorating American quilts from our first Centennial celebration (1876) and their history leading up to today. The history and pictures of quilts from the Centennial and Bicentennial years are awe inspiring. Please put the book, Commemorative American Quilts: Stitching Our Heritage from 1876 to Today by Sandra Sider, on hold so you can enjoy our country’s rich quilt history. I will probably end up purchasing this book to fully read and absorb every chapter.
YOU HAVE plenty of time to create your own commemorative challenge quilt to celebrate our nation’s semi-quincentennial with our guild’s Americana theme. Read over the QU Americana Challenge rules and make your quilt. You’ll be happy you did
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TURN IN DATES: Submit your quilt information, with a picture. I will also have paper forms at the QU July meeting on Thursday, July 9. Bring your quilt in a pillowcase WITH a printed picture. The FINAL turn-in date is Saturday, July 25 from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. at the Lake Jackson Branch Library (3840 North Monroe Street— Corner of Fred George Road and North Monroe Street in Huntington Oaks Plaza.)
THANK YOU for all your support and enthusiasm for this year’s challenge. I know we are all very busy and sometimes a challenge is pushed to the back burners. I challenge you to challenge yourself to participate in this very special year. I forgot to remind you that there is NO FEE to enter this year. The rules are FREE! The entry is FREE!
A huge benefit of being a QU member. Grab fabric from your own collection and start sewing. You got this!
Sincerely,
Carole P. Gentry,
QU Challenge Chair 2026